Ahmed Shahzad keeps a strong head to put Pakistan ahead of New Zealand in Sharjah

Opener's 113 showed his strong character recovering from a skull fracture suffered last month as hosts take 2-1 lead in the ODI series.

Captain Shahid Afridi made a quickfire 55 to boost Pakistan’s total past the 300-run mark against New Zealand in Sharjah after Ahmed Shahzad had set up the foundation with a hundred. Aamir Qureshi / AShow more

SHARJAH // Ahmed Shahzad must have known his luck was in. He even got a wicket with his occasional leg-spin.

Pakistan’s golden boy has got a golden arm, too, as it turns out.

The fact that he had earlier made such a sparkling contribution in the discipline where he earns his money – batting – meant his side were cruising by the time he came on to bowl.

Their score of 364 for seven was the highest in a one-day international at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

It made for not so much a contest as a procession, as Pakistan eased to victory by 147 runs.

Given it was a work day, Pakistan’s supporters will be grateful for the early night as much as the victory.

With the hosts now 2-1 up in the series with two to play, the teams head to Abu Dhabi.

That could be an emotional road trip for Shahzad, who will be back in the capital for the first time since he was hit in the head by a bouncer there.

It has been a fraught time for cricket lately, and Shahzad, too.

He only returned to the game at the start of this month after four weeks out with a fractured skull, having been hit off the bowling of Corey Anderson in the Abu Dhabi Test.

He has betrayed no signs of fear since returning to the crease, and this century was completely unflustered.

When he eventually fell, Anderson went out of his way from his fielding position at long-off to shake his hand.

That was a fair effort, given Anderson was suffering a miserable day.

When he leaked 22 runs off the final over, it added up to 96 from his 10 overs – the third-most runs ever conceded in a one-day international by a New Zealand bowler.

He was hardly in a minority, as the tourists then meekly capitulated on a night they will be happy to forget.

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s captain for the day and prince of hearts forever in these parts, contributed three wickets to his early rapid-fire half-century to seal the thrashing.

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